Volunteers needed as Fruitvale home rebuild projects wrap up

Volunteers have helped rebuild two homes for residents of Fruitvale, which was impacted by an EF-3 tornado that struck April 29.

Flower Mound residents answered the call when officials asked for donations to help rebuild homes in Fruitvale that were destroyed in a tornado last spring.

Now they can see the money being put to use.

Volunteers are needed for 8 a.m. Saturday at Lowes in Flower Mound to construct the frame of the second of two homes they are building for the residents of the East Texas town.

Mayor Tom Hayden and Fire Chief Eric Greaser came up with the idea last year to help residents rebuild their homes after an EF-3 tornado destroyed much of the town April 29.

Local residents donated about $150,000 for the effort.

On Jan. 6 volunteers built the frame for the first home, and that was transported to Fruitvale, where the rest of the construction is taking place.

“We would like to get the walls constructed in one day,” said Mark Kyer, one of the volunteers leading the effort. “About 95 percent of the walls on Jan. 6 were done that first day, so we’re looking for a similar scope of work.”

Kyer said volunteers are needed Saturday, but he said the biggest need is Feb. 3. That’s when the roof trusses are expected to be delivered in Fruitvale for the first house, and the walls built Saturday will be put up on the second house.

“We would like to have about 20 volunteers for that,” Kyer said. “We probably have about five or 10 right now that we can probably get. But the more we can get the better. The walls will be heavy after they’re constructed. We have two projects and one contractor.”

Organizers said the volunteer efforts have helped.

“The work we’ve gotten has been high quality,” said David Eiland, a contractor who is helping with the project. “The volunteer work has been very good.”

Eiland said the project has been a community effort. In addition to the individual donations, he said Sam Pack Ford in Lewisville, CoServ and Cornerstone Staffing have provided a big portion of the funding.

He said much of the volunteer efforts have been rooted in the Cross Timbers Rotary Club. He said members of the Flower Mound Town Council, fire department and others have volunteered as well.

For information on how to volunteer, contact Eiland through the Flower Mound Cares Facebook group.